By Kim McDonnell,
RoadPro Manager, Customer Experience
While the big truck shows like the Great American Trucking Show and the Mid America Trucking Show are canceled this year, many drivers might be wondering where they will see the latest in trucker gear and products. While there may not be as many vendors displaying the latest in products and gear as the aforementioned big shows, there are still many in-person shows planned for 2021.
Here are a few you may want to check out this year:
The American Truck Historical Society National Convention and Truck Show will take place June 1-5 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and be a hybrid event – part in-person and part virtual. In addition to seeing some pretty cool antique trucks and listening to excellent speakers, there will also be vendors in attendance displaying products and apparel as you roll into summer.
The Walcott Truckers Jamboree, held at the Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa, July 8-10, is always a favorite in the trucking community. In addition to a great lineup of entertainment, truck beauty contests, and great food, you can also see over 150 exhibitors displaying the latest trucker gear.
New to the truck show scene this year will be the Outrageous American Truck Show, also taking place that same July weekend in Ohio at the Holmes County Fairgrounds. The trade show is free to attend, allowing you to check out the latest products from many top brands. This new show also has plenty of entertainment and events lined up at various ticket costs.
Closing out the month of July will be the Gear Jammer Truck Show in Winchester, New Hampshire. It will have a Show and Shine event, Truck Pull, activities for the kids, entertainment like Tony Justice, and a Vendor midway to stroll through and take a look for the latest products to outfit your truck.
The Waupun Truck-n-Show in Waupun, Wisconsin, will celebrate its 31st year in August 2021, offering information, products, and career opportunities for the trucking industry.
September will see many shows that will occur throughout the month in all parts of the country that are smaller venues but still have vendors that will display what is new. A few to check out are the Richard Crane Memorial Truck Show in Michigan and Truckers 4 Hope in Pennsylvania. Both of these shows also benefit worthy causes. The Guilty By Association Truck Show Joplin, Missouri, known as GBATS, is a sizeable biannual truck show and promises to be the place where the trucking industry comes together to enjoy all aspects of trucking and super cool things to see and do.
There are many more regional truck shows that are planned for this year, and sure there will be one that is taking place near you. Check out sites like Smart Trucking, Chrome Shop Mafia, Truckers News, and 10-4 Magazine for the latest truck show news. Of course, COVID may dictate if all of them happen, so make sure to check with the show organizers or their websites before you make your plans to attend.
If truck shows are not your thing or you really don’t have the time to attend, there are still a few options to check out new products in person. Truck stops and travel centers are always a sure bet to see some of the latest products for your truck. You will often find them featured in an end-of-aisle display, store flyers, or called out on the video kiosks that run in-store.
No time to browse in-store? Then maybe a subscription to receive a Freight Crate from BreakerOne9 might be an option for uncovering new products. BreakerOne9 serves the truck driver by providing products in their Freight Crate that are new to the market. Anything from the latest release of a Bluetooth® headset, trucker gear, or health and wellness products can be found in the crate.
Products provided in the Freight Crate are valued at over $150.00 each time you receive them, and you only pay $75.00 for each crate. That’s at least 50% off to give new products a try. You can also purchase a yearly subscription that will provide even further savings for trying new product. BreakerOne9 has provided an additional 10% off your first subscription for our Gear Guide readers. Just go to BreakerOne9.com and use code GEAR UP.
We all hope that MATS and GATS will return in 2022 so we can all visit with you all, but in the meantime, check out some of the smaller shows taking place, and maybe we will see you there!
